Jump to content
The Dark Mod Forums

Why exactly is it necessary for me to sign up for PSN just to use the web browser on PS4?


Recommended Posts

Posted

This sends up red flags. What data are they collecting if I was to use that browser? It is also what I would call crossing the line. Look, a lot of people bash Google for invading privacy. However, you can use an Android very effectively without signing up for Google; without giving them a name or anything. You can browse the web, install apps, make calls with SIP, and on and on.

 

This thing with the PS4 is a disturbing trend, though. I do NOT want to see it spread. Imagine if the new version of Windows made you sign up with MS before allowing you to browse the web. Its obvious that MS is in trouble because Google is putting the squeeze on with Chromebooks and tablets. I mean, Windows is now free with certain types of devices (and more pushy than ever before about getting you to sign up for the cloud).

 

Back to Sony though, why would I trust them after the rootkits and removal of "other OS" feature from hardware that was already paid for?

 

They also demonstrated that security is an unimportant concept at best with all the security breaches and passwords that were encoded as plain-text among other things.

 

I wonder if anybody has investigated this with something like Wireshark to see what info gets sent to Sony when you use the browser? I build PCs myself and use Linux, so I really do not need to use the PS4 browser, but I was just curious. I also wasn't expecting them to be so pushy about getting you to sign up like this. For example, even a Dreamcast allowed you to surf the web with nothing more than a log-in for the ISP. I got a PS4 so I can play games offline from a disk with no connection to the cloud.

 

TLDR: this needless lock-out of simple features until you sign up for something is creepy and crossing the line, especially in a post-Snowden world.

  • Like 2

--- War does not decide who is right, war decides who is left.

Posted

It's "Rootkit"-Sony, and "Heh, let's remove Linux from the supported OS from the PS"-Sony, remember? Why wouldn't they screw with you, just because?

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

 

"Remember: If the game lets you do it, it's not cheating." -- Xarax

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recent Status Updates

    • JackFarmer

      "The Year of the Rat." 
      😄

      Al Stewart must be proud of you!
      Happy testing!
      @MirceaKitsune
      · 1 reply
    • datiswous

      I posted about it before, but I think the default tdm logo video looks outdated. For a (i.m.o.) better looking version, you can download the pk4 attached to this post and plonk it in your tdm root folder. Every mission that starts with the tdm logo then starts with the better looking one. Try for example mission COS1 Pearls and Swine.
      tdm_logo_video.pk4
      · 2 replies
    • JackFarmer

      Kill the bots! (see the "Who is online" bar)
      · 3 replies
    • STiFU

      I finished DOOM - The Dark Ages the other day. It is a decent shooter, but not as great as its predecessors, especially because of the soundtrack.
      · 5 replies
    • JackFarmer

      What do you know about a 40 degree day?
      @demagogue
      · 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...